Americans United - Focus On The Familyhttps://au.org/tags/focus-family
enJim Daly Of Focus On The Family Says Only Christian Coaches Can Help Students Build Character https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/jim-daly-of-focus-on-the-family-says-only-christian-coaches-can-help
<a href="/about/people/rokia-hassanein">Rokia Hassanein</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>A couple weeks ago, <a href="https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/federal-appeals-court-cries-foul-on-wash-football-coach-s-claim-that-he-can">church–state separation scored a huge touchdown</a> when the <a href="https://au.org/files/2017-08-23%20Opinion%20Kennedy%20v%20Bremerton.pdf">9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed</a> that a Washington public high school could ask its football coach not to lead students in prayer after games. But some don’t seem to be reacting very well to the court’s decision.</p>
<p>One negative reaction came from Focus on the Family’s President <a href="http://jimdaly.focusonthefamily.com/">Jim Daly</a>, who recently told TV preacher Pat Robertson’s <a href="http://www.cbn.com/">Christian Broadcasting Network </a>that “it’s egregious that the government would rule against a coach who’s trying to do all he can do to help those boys.” (Thanks to <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/09/06/focus-on-the-family-head-only-christian-coaches-can-teach-children-character/">Hemant Mehta</a> for the tip on this.)</p>
<p>But as the school district realized, when Bremerton High School coach Joe Kennedy consistently knelt at the 50-yard line after games to lead players in prayer, he was pressuring other players to join in – a violation of the U.S. Constitution, whether intentional or not.</p>
<p>Daly, however, does not grasp the importance of public-school employees staying neutral when carrying out their duties. Instead, he suggested that Christian coaches are what students need to develop character. (Of course, if this were a Muslim, Hindu or atheist coach, I doubt his reaction would be the same.)</p>
<p>“It was pivotal for me to have a coach that taught me character, and I think what Coach Joe is doing is wonderful,” Daly said. “And the fact that he’s just going to the middle of the field to thank God that his players are kept safe? I think for the 9th Circuit Court to shut him down and for the school to fire him is egregious.” (Kennedy was not fired. His contract expired and, rather than apply to renew it, he sued the school, demanding reinstatement and the right to pray with students.) </p>
<p>While Daly is entitled to his personal religious beliefs, there’s no justification for compelling students, including religious minorities and nonbelievers, to participate in Christian prayer at a public school. Public schools are for everyone, not just Christians, and coercive school prayer has no place. The school district did the right thing by recognizing that Kennedy’s actions were unacceptable and asking him to stop. </p>
<p><img alt="" src="/files/Daaaaaaaly.png" style="width: 800px; height: 463px;" /></p>
<p><em>Daly's comments about school prayer are problematic and ignore the constitutional rights of students. </em></p>
<p>It’s also insulting for Daly to suggest that only religion-based ethics can build students’ character. Public-school students come from diverse religious and nonreligious backgrounds, and they don’t need to participate in school prayer or follow the religion of their coach in order to build character.</p>
<p>Speaking about groups that often fight for church–state separation in public schools, Daly made some ridiculous statements.</p>
<p>“To me, it seems they [groups like the ACLU and Americans United] would rather see me with a heroin needle in my arm, or having a premarital affair with some girl in high school, or a out-of-wedlock baby,” he said. “I’m tired of it.”</p>
<p>AU joined 11 religious and civil-liberties organizations in filing a friend-of-the-court <a href="http://au.org/files/pdf_documents/2017-01-04%20Bremerton%20amicus%20brief%20-%20corrected%20FINAL%20as%20filed.pdf">brief</a> in the case, <em>Kennedy v. Bremerton School District</em>, and we supported the district by presenting arguments before the appeals court. We did not do these things to encourage teenage pregnancy or drug addiction. Rather, our goal was simple: We sought to protect the principle that public schools must remain neutral with respect to religion to protect the constitutional rights of all.</p>
<p>As AU Legal Director Richard B. Katskee <a href="http://au.org/media/press-releases/americans-united-applauds-federal-appeals-court-ruling-protecting-religious">said</a> after the ruling: “Students and families have the right to decide whether and how to practice their faith. Public schools should be welcoming places for all students and families, and no student should feel like an outsider at his or her school.”</p>
<p>You can help keep public schools inclusive and protect the constitutional rights of students. If you see something that you think may be a church–state violation, <a href="https://au.org/get-involved/report-a-violation/form">report</a> it to us. </p>
</div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/school-prayer">School Prayer</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/jim-daly">Jim Daly</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/focus-family">Focus On The Family</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/christian-broadcasting-network-cbn">Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN)</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kennedy-v-bremerton-school-district">Kennedy v. Bremerton School District</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/joe-kennedy">Joe Kennedy</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/public-school-prayer">Public School Prayer</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/public-high-schools">Public High Schools</a></span></div></div>Thu, 07 Sep 2017 15:26:01 +0000Rokia Hassanein13190 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/jim-daly-of-focus-on-the-family-says-only-christian-coaches-can-help#commentsFor Focus On The Family, The Focus Remains On Far-Right Politicshttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/for-focus-on-the-family-the-focus-remains-on-far-right-politics
<a href="/about/people/rob-boston">Rob Boston</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>Vice President Mike Pence <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/2017/06/13/mike-pence-colorado-springs-focus-family-anniversary/">will be in Colorado Springs</a> this Friday speaking at an event to mark the 40th anniversary of Focus on the Family (FOF), the fundamentalist Christian family ministry and Religious Right group founded by Dr. James C. Dobson, a child psychologist.</p>
<p>Dobson, a controversial figure known mainly for his enthusiastic endorsement of corporal punishment, left FOF in 2010 and turned things over to Jim Daly. Daly presents a kinder, gentler face than the frequently scowling, judgmental Dobson.</p>
<p>But have things changed at FOF? Not really. You need only to spend a few minutes on the group’s website to see that it’s business as usual for Focus.</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/files/Dobson%20prayer%20sign.jpg" style="width: 800px; height: 533px;" /></p>
<p><em>James Dobson is gone, but not much else has changed at Focus on the Family. </em></p>
<p>I was struck by the material about LGBTQ rights. This issue has always been an obsession with FOF – and many other Religious Right entities. The organization worked overtime to fight marriage equality and oppose other forms of LGBTQ rights. This continues today.</p>
<p>A <a href="http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/marriage/marriage/marriage-our-position">FOF position paper</a> states that marriage should be limited to “the union of one man and one woman” and asserts that only “married, opposite-sex couples” should be allowed to adopt. (Denying a child in need the possibility of a loving home simply because both potential parents are of the same gender doesn’t sound very “pro-family” to me.)</p>
<p>The FOF site contains advice on how to talk with children about <a href="http://www.focusonthefamily.com/lifechallenges/understanding-homosexuality/talking-to-your-children-about-transgender-issues">transgender issues</a>. The group starts with the premise that people aren’t really transgendered, they just suffer from “gender confusion.” FOF offers the same old fear-based, rigidly fundamentalist message that the organization has pushed for years. If children ask about transgender individuals, for example, FOF recommends telling them about “the pain and false beliefs in the lives and hearts of persons who struggle with transgender issues.” How FOF knows that all transgender people experience these feelings is left unexplained.</p>
<p>Asserts FOF, “God wants us to live in truth about how He created us and who we are. We know God is powerful to save and transform lives – including the gender-confused. Tell your children this truth.”</p>
<p>FOF also works to marginalize members of these communities. A FOF position paper argues that the gay community in America <a href="http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/sexuality/how-to-talk-to-your-children-about-homosexuality/the-homosexual-community-small-number-big-influence">is smaller</a> than most people think. FOF puts the number at 1-3 percent of the population. Even if that were true (and statistical data <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/just-how-many-lgbt-americans-are-there">says it’s not</a>) it’s irrelevant. In this country, large groups don’t get more rights than small ones. FOF may believe a group’s demands for equal treatment, respect and basic rights can be ignored if that group is not large, but that isn’t the way our Constitution works, thankfully. (FOF also continues to promote long-discredited <a href="http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/sexuality/freedom-from-homosexuality/sexual-orientation-change-efforts-whats-the-controversy">“conversion therapy”</a> for gay people.)</p>
<p>Elsewhere on the Focus site, you will find praise for Kim Davis, the infamous government clerk in Rowan County, Ky., who refused to do her job by giving same-sex couples marriage licenses, things they were legally permitted to have. (FOF asserts that George Washington and Abraham Lincoln would have <a href="http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/religious-freedom/kim-davis-and-the-us-supreme-court/what-would-george-washington-and-abraham-lincoln-think-of-kim-davis">sided with Davis</a>.) You’ll find <a href="http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/religious-freedom/putting-the-merry-back-into-christmas/do-you-see-what-i-see">demands for more Christian symbols</a> on public property, <a href="http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/sexuality/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-laws-jeopardizing-freedom-and-rights/when-sexuality-trumps-religious-freedom-the-problem-with-sogi-laws">dire warnings</a> about legislation designed to protect people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and <a href="http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/religious-freedom/north-carolina-hb2-and-religious-freedom/seven-things-you-should-know-about-north-carolinas-hb2">articles defending</a> North Carolina’s mean-spirited bill that attempted to regulate citizens’ bathroom choices.</p>
<p>In other words, even in the post-Dobson era, it’s pretty much business as usual at Focus on the Family.</p>
<p>And here’s another thing that hasn’t changed: FOF remains very well heeled. Its annual budget hovers around $86.5 million. That’s a big chunk of change to use to fight the culture wars.</p>
<p>As AU celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, we will continue to support true religious freedom. Through our <a href="http://www.protectthyneighbor.org/">Protect Thy Neighbor</a> project, we fight against efforts by FOF and other groups to use religious freedom as an excuse to discriminate. Learn how you can support our work <a href="https://secure.everyaction.com/V7FtpsrviU2WH4XyuHJjDg2">here</a>.</p>
</div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/descriptions-and-activities-religious-right-groups">Descriptions and Activities of Religious Right Groups</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/james-dobson">James Dobson</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/jim-daly">Jim Daly</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/focus-family">Focus On The Family</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/mike-pence">Mike Pence</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/lgbtq-rights">LGBTQ Rights</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/protect-thy-neighbor">Protect Thy Neighbor</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kim-davis">Kim Davis</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/north-carolina">north carolina</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/george-washington">George Washington</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/abraham-lincoln">Abraham Lincoln</a></span></div></div>Wed, 21 Jun 2017 14:21:57 +0000Rob Boston13024 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/for-focus-on-the-family-the-focus-remains-on-far-right-politics#commentsThe National Day Of Prayer Task Force Promotes Bad History And Divisivenesshttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/the-national-day-of-prayer-task-force-promotes-bad-history-and-divisiveness
<a href="/about/people/rob-boston">Rob Boston</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>Tomorrow is the National Day of Prayer (NDP), an annual event that is, to speak frankly, annoying to many of us who support the separation of church and state.</p>
<p>This year’s National Day of Prayer may have the <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/02/donald-trump-religious-liberty-executive-order-237888">added spectacle</a> of President Donald J. Trump signing a so-called “religious freedom” executive order that is actually a betrayal of this fundamental American value. Religion should never be an excuse to discriminate, yet that’s just what this rumored order is designed to do. The sweeping order is aimed at LGBTQ people and women, but would also put people of minority faiths, non-theists and almost anyone else at risk of harm. A draft of this executive order was leaked in February and it was <a href="http://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/an-appalling-anti-lgbtq-trump-order-may-be-coming-you-can-help-au-stop-it">shocking in scope</a>; the one Trump might sign tomorrow is reportedly just as bad. But we still have a chance to stop it: take action and <a href="http://p2a.co/ulz60zK">urge the president</a> not to sign this order.</p>
<p>Aside from Trump potentially using the day as a bully pulpit to advance discrimination, Americans United has <a href="https://au.org/content/whats-wrong-with-the-national-day-of-prayer">a lot of problems</a> with the entire notion of National Day of Prayer, which was established by an act of Congress in 1952 and codified as the first Thursday in May in 1988. Chiefly, government has no business telling us when, how, where or even if we ought to pray.</p>
<p>But I’m especially concerned because the NDP Task Force is a font for bad history. The task force is a private group that organizes NDP events around the country. Formerly headed by Shirley Dobson, wife of Focus on the Family founder James C. Dobson, it’s now run by Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of the famous evangelist Billy Graham.</p>
<p>As I was browsing the <a href="http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/about">NDP Task Force’s website</a>, I was surprised to see a quote from Thomas Jefferson. It reads, “Fasting and prayer are religious exercises; the enjoining them an act of discipline. Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the time for these exercises, and the objects proper for them, according to their own particular tenets; and right can never be safer than in their hands, where the Constitution has deposited it.”</p>
<p>I recognized those lines. They come from a letter Jefferson wrote on Jan. 23, 1808, to the Rev. Samuel Miller. The thing is, Jefferson wrote the letter to explain why, as president, he <em>refused</em> to issue official prayer proclamations! The Task Force quotes Jefferson to make it sound like he’s all for prayer days when in fact he believed the exact opposite. </p>
<p>The Task Force has wrenched the quote from context – and it managed to mangle the quote a bit in the process. This passage (which retains original spelling and punctuation) gives an accurate understanding of Jefferson’s views: “I consider the government of the U S. as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises. … I do not believe it is for the interest of religion to invite the civil magistrate to direct it’s exercises, it’s discipline, or it’s doctrines; nor of the religious societies that the general government should be invested with the power of effecting any uniformity of time or matter among them. Fasting &amp; prayer are religious exercises. The enjoining them an act of discipline. Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the times for these exercises, &amp; the objects proper for them, according to their own particular tenets; and this right can never be safer than in their own hands, where the constitution has deposited it.” (You can read the entire letter <a href="http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/amendI_religions60.html">here</a>.)</p>
<p>Jefferson is saying that it’s a mistake for the government to advise people to pray. That job is best left in the hands of religious groups, and decisions about when, where and how to pray are best left to the people. Jefferson would not have supported the NDP.</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/files/GettyImages-649691684.jpg" style="width: 800px; height: 534px;" /></p>
<p><em>Americans have the freedom to pray when, how and if they choose - they don't need a government proclamation.</em></p>
<p>The Task Force’s website contains other errors, mostly of omission. It reports that President James Madison issued prayer proclamations during the War of 1812 but doesn’t go on to say that Madison <a href="http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/amendI_religions64.html">later concluded</a> that his actions had been unconstitutional.</p>
<p>Likewise, the Task Force notes that in 1832, some members of Congress sought a “Day of Public Humiliation, Prayer and Fasting” to respond to an outbreak of cholera. They don’t bother to point out that a member of the House, Rep. Gulian C. Verplanck, a New York Democrat, <a href="http://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/valuable-vision-verplancks-smack-down-of-government-backed-prayer">put a stop to it</a>.</p>
<p>“In this land, where every man’s faith is protected, and no man’s faith is preferred, even a resolution or a proclamation for a fast from the civil authority may offend the consciences or wound the feelings of some or the other of our citizens,” Verplanck asserted. (Amen, brother!)</p>
<p>Finally, the NDP Task Force likes to pretend that this day is for everyone, but it obviously excludes non-believers and many believers as well. On its website, the Task Force points out that local events reflect “its Judeo-Christian beliefs.”</p>
<p>They add “Judeo” but don’t really mean it. The NDP promotes fundamentalist Christianity. If you doubt that, take a look at this <a href="http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/national-prayer">“National Prayer”</a> penned by Lotz that’s rife with offensive Religious Right political claptrap.</p>
<p>To sum up, the National Day of Prayer promotes bad history, offends the separation of church and state, divides our people along religious lines and has become a vehicle for the Religious Right to promote distasteful ideas.</p>
<p>Remind me again why we do this?</p>
</div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/government-sponsored-religious-displays">Government-Sponsored Religious Displays</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/descriptions-and-activities-religious-right-groups">Descriptions and Activities of Religious Right Groups</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/responding-common-attacks-church-state-separation">Responding to Common Attacks on Church-State Separation</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/history-and-origins-church-state-separation">History and Origins of Church-State Separation</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/national-day-of-prayer-ndp">National Day of Prayer (NDP)</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/president-donald-j-trump">President Donald J. Trump</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/executive-order">executive order</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/religious-freedom">religious freedom</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/lgbtq-rights">LGBTQ Rights</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/discrimination">discrimination</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/womens-rights">women&#039;s rights</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/shirley-dobson">Shirley Dobson</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/focus-family">Focus On The Family</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/james-c-dobson">James C. Dobson</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/anne-graham-lotz">Anne Graham Lotz</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/billy-graham">Billy Graham</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/thomas-jefferson">thomas jefferson</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/rev-samuel-miller">Rev. Samuel Miller</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/president-james-madison">President James Madison</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/rep-gulian-c-verplanck">Rep. Gulian C. Verplanck</a></span></div></div>Wed, 03 May 2017 17:47:32 +0000Liz Hayes12927 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/the-national-day-of-prayer-task-force-promotes-bad-history-and-divisiveness#commentsWill Donald Trump Give Some Late Gifts To The Religious Right?https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/will-donald-trump-give-some-late-gifts-to-the-religious-right
<a href="/about/people/liz-hayes">Liz Hayes</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>It hasn’t been a secret what members of the Religious Right sought under their Christmas trees this year, and voters playing the role of Santa Claus delivered: Donald Trump for president.</p>
<p>Even though his own advisors have indicated you can’t take what Trump <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/12/politics/kellyanne-conway-hillary-clinton-donald-trump-2016-election/">says</a> <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/trump-symbolically-anthony-scaramucci-232848">literally</a>, his voiced support for issues dear to the hearts of far-right evangelicals was enough for them to overlook the reality television star’s three marriages, <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/10/30/donald-trump-in-1990-adultery-is-not-a-sin.html">permissive attitude on adultery</a> and boasts about <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-recorded-having-extremely-lewd-conversation-about-women-in-2005/2016/10/07/3b9ce776-8cb4-11e6-bf8a-3d26847eeed4_story.html?utm_term=.e6b68761d559">sexually assaulting women</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/11/08/us/politics/election-exit-polls.html?_r=1">Exit polling</a> showed 81 percent of white, evangelical Christian voters cast their ballots for Trump.</p>
<p>Family Research Council President Tony Perkins <a href="http://www.frc.org/newsroom/survey-finds-60-percent-of-trump-voters-were-impacted-by-pro-life-pro-religious-liberty-gop-platform">noted</a> the “bridge between Donald Trump and Christian conservatives” was the candidate’s pledge to appoint conservative judges on the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal benches. (As <em>The Washington Post</em> reports this morning, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-to-inherit-more-than-100-court-vacancies-plans-to-reshape-judiciary/2016/12/25/d190dd18-c928-11e6-85b5-76616a33048d_story.html?hpid=hp_rhp-top-table-main_trumpjudges805p%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&amp;utm_term=.3b0f2f53ff15">there are more than 100 vacancies</a> on the federal bench, meaning Trump is well poised to deliver on this promise.)</p>
<p>Perkins said other decisive issues included Trump’s backing of efforts to allow businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ citizens and his vow to repeal the Johnson Amendment, a provision in federal law that prohibits non-profits, including houses of worship, from endorsing or opposing political candidates.</p>
<p>Perkins <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/13/us/politics/republican-convention-issues.html?_r=0">was involved</a> in developing the Republican Party’s 2016 platform, which espoused conservative social priorities. It echoed Trump in supporting another issue of concern to Americans United: the expansion of private school voucher plans that would direct tax dollars to religious schools.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img alt="" src="/files/ReligiousRightPromises_Countdown25_r1_3.png" style="width: 800px; height: 800px;" /></p>
<p><em>We're ready to fight the Religious Right.</em></p>
<p>Trump also had an “evangelical advisory board” full of far-right voices willing to overlook the candidate’s less-than-righteous past in exchange for a potential ally in the White House.</p>
<p>Some of those <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/trump-evangelical-advisory-board-224612">advisors</a> included:</p>
<p><strong>James Dobson</strong>, founder of the Family Research Council, Focus on the Family and Family Talk, who <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2016/october/james-dobson-why-i-am-voting-for-donald-trump.html">referenced the election</a> as a “single-issue” race revolving around the appointment of at least one Supreme Court justice. He called Trump’s list of proposed conservative justices “stellar” and also was encouraged by Trump’s running mate selection of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who has deep ties to the Religious Right.</p>
<p><strong>Jerry Falwell Jr</strong>., president of the fundamentalist Liberty University, was one of Trump’s early Religious Right endorsers. “In my opinion, Donald Trump lives a life of loving and helping others as Jesus taught in the great commandment,” <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/01/26/evangelical-leader-jerry-falwell-jr-endorses-trump/?utm_term=.d810115a833e">Falwell said</a> as he introduced Trump at the Virginia university in January 2015. After the election, Falwell said he was <a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/df9a14336c64485cabb5fdc81ded5981/falwell-says-trump-offered-him-education-secretary-job">offered but declined</a> the role of secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.</p>
<p><strong>Ralph Reed</strong>, founder and chairman of the Faith &amp; Freedom Coalition, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/10/08/still-the-best-candidate-some-evangelicals-still-back-trump-despite-lewd-video/?utm_term=.0ea1e36ca518">told <em>The Washington Post</em></a> that “people of faith are voting on issues like who will protect unborn life, defend religious freedom, grow the economy, appoint conservative judges and oppose the Iran nuclear deal.” He added that the taped conversation featuring Trump’s comments about groping women ranked “pretty low on [evangelical voters’] hierarchy of their concerns.”</p>
<p>Apparently, those same voters’ concerns have changed since 1998, when Reed, then running the Christian Coalition, referenced then-President Bill Clinton to <em>The New York Times</em>: “We care about the conduct of our leaders, and we will not rest until we have leaders of good moral character.”</p>
<p>It remains to be seen whether Trump will try to fulfill his promises, or if this is a gift Christian conservatives will wish they could exchange. I suspect the former. Trump doesn’t have to sincerely believe in the Religious Right’s agenda to attempt to deliver on it, and since he wants the Religious Right’s ongoing support, why wouldn’t he try to keep its leaders and members happy? Trump is already doing that. Just look at his cabinet appointees.</p>
<p>One thing’s for sure: Americans United will have its hands full next year. We’re going to need your help, so if you’re not a card-carrying member, <a href="https://support.au.org/donate">now is the time to sign up</a>.</p>
</div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/religious-groups-involvement-in-candidate-elections">Religious Groups’ Involvement in Candidate Elections</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/judicial-nominations">Judicial Nominations</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/descriptions-and-activities-religious-right-groups">Descriptions and Activities of Religious Right Groups</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/ralph-reed">ralph reed</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/james-dobson">James Dobson</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/jerry-falwell-jr-0">Jerry Falwell Jr.</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/supreme-court">Supreme Court</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/liberty-university">Liberty University</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/tony-perkins">Tony Perkins</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/focus-family">Focus On The Family</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/family-research-council">Family Research Council</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/family-talk-james-dobson">Family Talk with James Dobson</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/faith-freedom-coalition">Faith &amp; Freedom Coalition</a></span></div></div>Mon, 26 Dec 2016 14:37:16 +0000Rob Boston12549 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/will-donald-trump-give-some-late-gifts-to-the-religious-right#commentsThese Fundamentalists Are Not Going To Tolerate Legal Abortion And Marriage Equality. So There.https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/these-fundamentalists-are-not-going-to-tolerate-legal-abortion-and-marriage
<a href="/about/people/rob-boston">Rob Boston</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>I opened up my <em>Washington Post</em> yesterday morning – yes, I still read a paper edition – only to see a full-page ad on page A7 headlined, “DECLARATION OF DEPENDENCE UPON GOD AND HIS HOLY BIBLE.”</p>
<p>“Oh, this ought to be good,” I thought.</p>
<p>Indeed, the ad didn’t disappoint. It stated that people have certain rights given to them by the Creator and among them “is the right to exercise our Christian beliefs as put forth in God’s Holy Bible.”</p>
<p>Fair enough. I don’t really know that anyone is trying to take away those rights. We have hundreds of thousands of Christian churches in America, all operating freely without government harassment. Christian ministries proliferate on radio, television and over the internet. They raise billions every year, tax free. Their ability to evangelize is limited only by their imaginations.</p>
<p>Then we get to the meat of things: The signers of this document declare that “God grants life at conception” and therefore they refuse to fund or support abortion. Of course, they aren’t required to do this because of something called the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Amendment">Hyde Amendment.</a></p>
<p>The ad then moves on to marriage equality. Marriage, we are informed, “was instituted by God between one man and one woman. The Lord gave only this family unit the responsibility to have children and raise them in the fear of the Lord.”</p>
<p>It adds, “We also oppose same-sex marriage, polygamy, bestiality, and all other forms of sexual perversion prohibited by Holy Scripture” and asserts that the signers “commit to conducting our churches, ministries, businesses, and personal lives in accordance with our Christian faith and choose to obey God rather than man.”</p>
<p>Couple of things here. For starters, far-right fundamentalists can continue to assert that the only family that counts is one man and one woman with children, but the reality on the ground is quite different. Same-sex couples are raising children, as are single parents, blended families, extended families, families that formed by adoption, etc. When it comes to government policy, it makes sense to support them all. In fact, a real “pro-family” policy encompasses <em>all</em> families. (Whether those families choose to raise their kids “in the fear of the Lord” is up to them.)</p>
<p>Second, no one is going to require a church to recognize marriage equality or take part in a marriage between same-sex couples. We’ve been through this before. The First Amendment protects the right of all houses of worship and their ministers to decide which couples they will marry. Marriage equality has been legal in all 50 states since June of 2015. How many members of the clergy have been <a href="http://numberofministersforcedtomarrysamesexcouples.com/">jailed, punished or otherwise sanctioned</a> for refusing to officiate at the wedding of a same-sex couple? Zero.</p>
<p>Finally, it’s highly questionable that for-profit businesses have a “right” to refuse to provide services to people based on the owner’s religious beliefs. Many states and cities have laws that protect people, including members of the LGBTQ community, from discrimination.</p>
<p>Americans United has been following this issue closely through its <a href="http://www.protectthyneighbor.org/">Protect Thy Neighbor project. </a> AU’s belief is that religious freedom is obviously extremely important and should be protected, but that this principle doesn’t give anyone the right to harm others or discriminate against them.</p>
<p>Some familiar names are among the signers of the <a href="https://dependenceongod.com/">“Declaration of Dependence.”</a> Among them are pseudo-historian David Barton; James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family; William G. Boykin, a retired Army general who now works for the Family Research Council; Religious Right attorney Kelly Shackelford and two TV preachers, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar.</p>
<p><img alt="" src="/files/James%20dobson%20by%20adelle%20banks.jpg" style="width: 800px; height: 585px;" /></p>
<p><em>You continue not listening to James Dobson, which makes him angry (RNS photo/Adelle M. Banks)</em></p>
<p>In other words, this is the same crew that has been trying to run all of our lives for a long time. Their rather crabbed interpretation of the Bible – a view that millions of Christians don’t share – is the yardstick by which they determine God’s law.</p>
<p>The group backing the petition is seeking one million signatures. As of this morning, they had less than 76,000. They claim that they will “undertake a full media blitz that will include major press and media coverage; television broadcasts; news programs; full-page ads in national newspapers, which will include the website address for millions of people to sign the Declaration; and more.”</p>
<p>It’s unclear what the ad's backers will do if a million people sign the petition and the group still doesn’t get what it wants. After all, even if they reach the magic number, it's likely that abortion will stay legal, and marriage equality will remain a constitutional right. Perhaps they’ll hold their breath until they turn blue?</p>
<p>I’d like to think that efforts like this are the last gasp of a fading Religious Right, but I’ve heard that movement pronounced dead or dying too many times in the past to believe that.</p>
<p>Still, a fellow can dream.</p>
</div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/descriptions-and-activities-religious-right-groups">Descriptions and Activities of Religious Right Groups</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/james-dobson">James Dobson</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/david-barton">David Barton</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/william-boykin">William Boykin</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/creflo-dollar">Creflo Dollar</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kenneth-copeland">Kenneth Copeland</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kelly-shackelford">Kelly Shackelford</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/protect-thy-neighbor">Protect Thy Neighbor</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/declaration-of-dependence">Declaration of Dependence</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/marriage-equality-0">Marriage Equality</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/abortion">Abortion</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/focus-family">Focus On The Family</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/lgbtq-rights">LGBTQ Rights</a></span></div></div>Mon, 17 Oct 2016 14:42:50 +0000Rob Boston12415 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/these-fundamentalists-are-not-going-to-tolerate-legal-abortion-and-marriage#commentsMad Menhttps://au.org/church-state/september-2015-church-state/featured/mad-men
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>Marriage equality is now the law of the land in the United States – a fact that is not sitting well with the Religious Right.</p><p>“From a moral standpoint, 6/26 is now our 9/11,” tweeted Bryan Fischer, a host for the American Family Association’s Family Talk Radio, on the day of the U.S. Supreme Court’s marriage decision. “The rainbow jihadists of [the Supreme Court] blow up twin towers of truth and righteousness. Every advance of the gay agenda comes at the expense of religious liberty. As of today, free exercise is toast.”</p><p>Fischer’s hyperbolic analogy of the widespread legalization of marriage equality with the carnage inflicted by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001, a day that saw the deaths of nearly 3,000 people, is indicative of fundamentalist fears of a coming anti-Christian age in the United States. In fact, Fischer thinks the federal government could one day treat Christians as Adolf Hitler did Jews.</p><p>“Just as Hitler bottled up the church of his day inside the four walls of their churches, so the Gay Gestapo will do today,” he said in another tweet. “Hitler had the Jews to blame. The Gay Gestapo has Christians to blame.” </p><p>Although Fischer’s tirade was among the most extreme Religious Right responses to marriage equality, his sentiment is hardly unique. The far right is furious about the high court’s decision in <em>Obergefell v. Hodges</em>, which declared that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry in every state. </p><p>In the wake of that 5-4 ruling, religious zealots have made all sorts of threats, from mass resistance to civil war or anything else that will somehow absolve them from acknowledging that gay couples have rights. This has resulted in confusion and heartache for many couples in states that newly recognize same-sex marriages, as clerks, judges and other officials have attempted to resist the Supreme Court’s ruling in the name of “religious freedom.” </p><p>The ruling, written by Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, contained some eloquent passages. Writing of same-sex couples, Kennedy observed, “It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.”</p><p> But Kennedy’s stirring language did nothing to sway the high court’s conservative bloc of dissenters – Chief Justice John G. Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Samuel A. Alito and Clarence M. Thomas.</p><p> As is his wont, Scalia penned a sharp dissent in which he blasted the majority opinion as a threat to democracy.</p><p>“This is a naked judicial claim to legislative – indeed, super-legislative – power; a claim fundamentally at odds with our system of government,” Scalia wrote in his dissent. “Except as limited by a constitutional prohibition agreed to by the People, the States are free to adopt whatever laws they like, even those that offend the esteemed Justices’ ‘reasoned judgment.’ A system of government that makes the People subordinate to a committee of nine unelected lawyers does not deserve to be called a democracy.”</p><p>Some of the first non-judicial high-profile responses to the marriage case came from governors and attorneys general who were eager to score points with their far-right bases. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, for example, claimed that the marriage decision was unconstitutional.</p><p>“[T]he United States Supreme Court again ignored the text and spirit of the Constitution to manufacture a right that simply does not exist,” Paxton wrote. “In so doing, the Court weakened itself and weakened the rule of law, but did nothing to weaken our resolve to protect religious liberty and return to democratic self-government in the face of judicial activists attempting to tell us how to live.”</p><p>Paxton went on to imply – at least initially – that county clerks and other state employees charged with issuing marriage licenses may be free to disregard the <em>Obergefell </em>decision. </p><p>South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley took a similar position. In what he called a “commonsense solution,” Jackley suggested that government employees who object to marriage equality have the right to duck their duty.</p><p>“The Supreme Court’s decision and analysis on equal protection and due process must coexist with the constitutional right to freedom of religion,” he said. “And in South Dak­ota, we will work to respect both in compliance with the court’s directive.”</p><p>(State officials might want to be careful about taking advice from Paxton. Shortly after the decision, he refused to allow a gay man to list his same-sex spouse on a death certificate. In response, a federal judge ordered him to appear in court on possible contempt charges.)</p><p>A handful of governors got in on the defiance spectacle, too. In the end, however, such posturing was little more than a stalling tactic. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a GOP presidential candidate, vowed to delay the Pelican State’s compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling for as long as possible. Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant also indicated a desire to ignore the marriage ruling for the time being.</p><p>“What we’re trying to see now is what our next options may be,” Bryant said June 30. “We just want to make sure that whatever rights the state of Mississippi has we exercise.”</p><p>But even Bryant conceded that his fight would likely be fruitless.</p><p>“I think this matter has been settled by the Supreme Court,” he said that same day. “I think it’s just a matter of technicalities now.”</p><p>One governor, however, was not content with mere rhetoric. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback did his best to strike at the newfound freedoms granted to LGBT persons. On July 7, Brownback issued executive order 15-05, which purports to prohibit the state from discriminating against religious organizations that hold “the belief or moral conviction that marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman,” but in reality sanctions government-funded discrimination. Specifically, the order allows discrimination against LGBT people by religious foster care agencies, homeless shelters, food pantries and other social service entities.</p><p>In a press release, Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United, condemned Brownback’s deed.</p><p>“Gov. Brownback’s order is a shameful attempt to clothe naked discrimination in the noble garment of religious freedom,” he said. “It’s one of the more extreme overreactions we’ve seen in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling on marriage equality.”</p><p>When it comes to Religious Right groups, they are of the opinion that a number of doomsday scenarios are seemingly in play now that marriage equality has spread throughout the United States. The evidence for these claims, however, is a bit thin.</p><p>“I think we’re going to see the further deconstruction of the family,” Family Research Council President Tony Perkins told the <em>Washington Examiner</em> shortly after the high court’s decision. “We’re going to see the impact on marriage as we’ve seen in some of the Scandinavian countries. It means we’re going to see more children born out of wedlock.”</p><p>When asked to back up this dubious data, Perkins was unable to offer much in the way of substance: “[A]ny policy step – like you go back to no-fault divorce – we have seen this escalation in out-of-wedlock births, we’ve seen the de-escalation of marriage rates as a result of policy changes that move away from the historic meaning of marriage.”</p><p>The day of the ruling, Focus on the Family (FOF) founder James Dobson, who now runs a group called Family Talk, penned a column warning of dire consequences.</p><p>“Many of us will be dragged into court to be prosecuted or subjected to civil judgments,” Dobson wrote. “Some will lose their jobs, while others forfeit their businesses. Some will be persecuted and ridiculed and fined. Some may go to prison as the years unfold. Since same-sex marriage has now been determined to be a universal human right by the highest court in the land, it will trump religious liberty, churches, seminaries, Christian schools, businesses and a host of individual liberties. I also fear that judgment will befall this once great nation.”</p><p>Dobson called for a new Constitutional Convention “to set term limits on judges and justices. Another clause would limit the scope of their power. Unelected, unaccountable judges would no longer override the other two co-equal branches of government.”</p><p>The FOF founder lauded a statement from the National Organization for Marriage, which said in part, “It is a lawless ruling that contravenes the decisions of over 50 million voters and their elected representatives. It is a decision that is reminiscent of other illegitimate Court rulings such as <em>Dred Scott</em> and <em>Roe v. Wade</em> and will further plunge the Supreme Court into public disrepute. Make no mistake about it: The National Organization for Marriage and countless millions of Americans do not accept this ruling. Instead, we will work at every turn to reverse it.”</p><p>Other Religious Right leaders seemed to be in denial about the validity of the Supreme Court’s decision on marriage.</p><p>“We should not pretend that it is the rule of law, we should not act like it’s the rule of law,” Liberty Counsel head Mat Staver said in July. “We do need to protect religious freedom – but in the process we cannot accept this ruling as a legitimate ruling as the rule of law. It is not; it is not based on the Constitution – and if it’s not based on the Constitution, it’s just their opinion.”</p><p>While some angry Religious Right groups are merely spouting hot air, resistance to marriage equality on the ground was another matter altogether. Nationwide, clerks and judges have refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples under the guise of “religious freedom.” </p><p>One group of clerks seeking First Amendment martyrdom surfaced in Decatur County, Tenn. County Clerk Gwen Pope and employees Sharon Bell and Mickey Butler resigned in the wake of the Supreme Court’s marriage ruling because they were unwilling to obey the law and issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. </p><p>But not all recalcitrant clerks were willing to simply step down. In Kentucky, a clerk has vowed not to give licenses to same-sex couples, yet he still wants to keep his job. Casey Davis, a clerk in Casey County, said Gov. Steve Beshear is “violating my rights” when he told all clerks they are required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.</p><p>“It’s not just me being violated but it’s both side of the coin, both sides of this issue that’s at stake here – and that is our First Amendment rights,” Davis rambled. “We have religious freedom in this country, and if we lose that we’ve lost everything.”</p><p>Davis’s so-called solution to the problem would likely cost taxpayers money. He proposed the development of an online system that would allow same-sex couples to receive marriage licenses. At press time Beshear had not weighed in on this idea, but he did tell Davis face to face that he must “[i]ssue marriage licenses or resign’ – those were the words,” Davis told reporters.</p><p>At press time, Davis was still holding out.</p><p>“I can’t quit…I have a mortgage to pay,” he carped.</p><p>Elsewhere in the Bluegrass State, another court clerk has been sued by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky for her refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis (no relation to Casey) said her religious beliefs prevent her from issuing the licenses. She is now represented by Staver’s Liberty Counsel, a longtime opponent of marriage equality, and has filed suit herself, claiming a violation of religious freedom.</p><p>In Harrison County, Ind., former deputy clerk Linda Summers also filed a lawsuit alleging religious discrimination after she was fired for refusing to serve same-sex couples.</p><p>The situation is likely to escalate. Religious Right groups, having lost at the Supreme Court, are falling back on Plan B: prodding as many government officials as possible to resist the ruling. Spurred on by the likes of Paxton in Texas and Jackley in South Dakota, numerous clerks and judges now incorrectly believe they have a “religious freedom” right to avoid job duties that offend their faith.</p><p>The situation was chaotic in some states. Perhaps messiest of all was Alabama, where state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore did his best to do his worst as far as same-sex couples were concerned.</p><p>Months before the decision came down in <em>Obergefell</em>, Moore sowed the seeds of confusion when he instructed probate judges not to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples under a peculiar legal theory that probate judges don’t have to listen to the state attorney general. This came in response to a federal court ruling that legalized marriage equality in Alabama in February, and it had the effect of causing dozens of judges to either refuse to issue licenses to same-sex couples or to stop giving out licenses completely. At the height of the confusion, 44 of Alabama’s 67 counties defied the federal ruling. (See “Court Jester,” April 2015 <em>Church &amp; State.</em>)</p><p>In response, Americans United and its allies, fighting on behalf of five same-sex couples, worked to ensure that Alabama’s probate judges, whose job duties include issuing marriage licenses, obeyed the law. Since the legalization of marriage equality was ordered in the Yellowhammer State before the high court’s marriage ruling, that decision was temporarily put on hold pending the high court’s action. After <em>Oberfegell</em>, AU worked swiftly to cut through the red tape, asking U.S. District Judge Callie V.S. Granade to clarify that marriage equality would be mandatory in Alabama. One day later, July 1, Granade did just that.</p><p>But, remarkably, a handful of probate judges continued to hold out. Then-AU Legal Director Ayesha N. Khan told the <em>Montgomery Advertiser</em>, “If any probate judges persist in violating it, we would seek a finding of contempt from the court, which would result in the imposition of fines for every day of noncompliance, an award of attorneys’ fees for litigating the motion, and any remedies the court deems appropriate.”</p><p>Under threat of legal consequences, many of the remaining holdouts in Alabama eventually gave up their protests, and AU’s clients in <em>Strawser v. Strange</em> were finally able to marry. This included Albert Pigg and Keith Ingram, who had hoped to marry in Houston County in February but were forced to wait because County Probate Judge Patrick Davenport stopped granting marriage licenses to all couples. Ultimately, Ingram and Pigg were turned away four times before they succeeded.</p><p>“It was just a relief that finally Houston County will follow the law and treat all citizens as equal under the law,” Ingram told the news website AL.com July 22.</p><p>But not all was well in Alabama more than a month after the <em>Obergefell</em> ruling. The Campaign for Southern Equality reported in late July that 13 counties had taken the remarkable step of refusing to issue wedding licenses to anyone rather than grant them to same-sex couples.</p><p>Bibb County Probate Judge Jerry Pow told the Associated Press he has no plans to issue marriage licenses to anyone.</p><p>“It’s wrong,” he said. “[Marriage equality] is not what this country was founded on.”</p><p>In early July, Americans United sent letters to every state attorney general and to clerks and judges in Texas, South Dakota and Ohio, where some officials refused to comply with the Supreme Court ruling.</p><p>“As with an interracial couple, imposing such burdens on a same-sex couple would burden, demean, and stigmatize the couple in a manner that violates the Constitution and other laws. Thus, allowing accommodations in these circumstances would subject government entities and officials to legal liability,” AU advised officials in its letter. </p><p>AU attorneys are also responding to specific cases as reports come in. On July 15, Gregory M. Lipper, AU’s senior litigation counsel, wrote to James R. DePiazza, justice of the peace in Denton County, Texas, after stories surfaced in the media that DePiazza was requiring same-sex couples to fill out a form indicating that they acknowledge that DePiazza doesn’t support marriage equality. It also forbids any photography of the ceremony and prohibits attendees from congratulating the couple.</p><p>AU told DePiazza that he must discontinue this practice immediately.</p><p>“This demeaning requirement treats same-sex couples as second-class citizens, in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment,” Lipper told the judge. Shortly after receiving AU’s letter, DePiazza removed the objectionable language from the form.</p><p>The activities in Texas, Alabama, South Dakota and other states were part of a new Americans United initiative known as Protect Thy Neighbor, which strives to end religion-based discrimination against LGBT persons, non-believers and others. The project launched with a press conference July 7 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. (For more on Protect Thy Neighbor, see this issue of <em>Church &amp; State</em>, page 10.)</p><p>Unfortunately, the marriage melee is far from over. At press time, Liberty Counsel was still fighting in Alabama to give government employees a right to discriminate against same-sex couples. On July 9, the group asked the Alabama Supreme Court to grant exemptions for public employees who oppose marriage equality. Liberty Counsel’s argument essentially boiled down to one of state’s rights – a matter most people acknowledge was settled by the Civil War.</p><p>“There is existing precedent for a state’s highest court to reject an unlawful mandate from the U.S. Supreme Court,” said Liberty Counsel’s Staver in a press release. “The hope of our Constitutional Republic rests upon state officials and American citizens who will refuse to allow five, black-robed judges to rob us of our free, representative form of government. A judicial opinion without constitutional basis is not law and should not be followed by any state or citizen.”</p><p>A separate group, the Texas-based Liberty Institute, has been telling state and local officials that they have a right, under the Tenth Amendment, to “nullify” the high court ruling. The assertion is nonsense, but in Oklahoma, state Sen. Josh Brecheen (R-District 6) backed the idea in a recent column that ran in the <em>Durant Democrat</em>.</p><p>Even though the Supreme Court had the final word on marriage equality, it is clear the fight over this issue will linger. Still, the Religious Right should not be afforded the opportunity to ruin one of the watershed moments in American history simply because it hollers so loudly. With that in mind, the focus should be on the likes of Gary Wright, one of Americans United’s plaintiffs in <em>Strawser v. Strange</em>. Wright, a disabled U.S. Navy veteran who is now able to marry his partner, Brandon, said he is overjoyed the United States finally bestowed dignity on same-sex couples.</p><p>“The Supreme Court’s ruling vindicates the principles of liberty and equality that I sought to defend when I enlisted in the service,” Wright said in a “Wall of Separation” blog post. “The Supreme Court has finally recognized and declared to the world what Brandon and I already know: our love for one another is no different – and no less worthy of legal recognition and protection – than any other couple’s.” </p><p> </p></div></div><a href="/about/people/simon-brown">Simon Brown</a><h3 >If The Religious Right Has Its Way, The Supreme Court&#039;s Historic Ruling On Marriage Won&#039;t Be The Last&nbsp;Word</h3><div class="field field-name-field-cs-department field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Featured</div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/marriage">Marriage</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/descriptions-and-activities-religious-right-groups">Descriptions and Activities of Religious Right Groups</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/responding-common-attacks-church-state-separation">Responding to Common Attacks on Church-State Separation</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-cs-issue field-type-node-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Magazine Issue:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><article id="node-11349" class="node node-church-state-issue clearfix">
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<h2><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state">
The <span class="cs-month field">September</span> <span class="cs-year field"><span class="date-display-single">2015</span></span> issue of <em>Church &amp; State</em>
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<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/featured/atheists-excluded">Atheists Excluded</a></h3>
<h4>Americans United And Allies Sue To Bring Real Inclusion To A Florida County’s Invocation Policy</h4> </div>
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<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/featured/mad-men">Mad Men</a></h3>
<h4>If The Religious Right Has Its Way, The Supreme Court&#039;s Historic Ruling On Marriage Won&#039;t Be The Last Word</h4> </div>
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<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/featured/protecting-thy-neighbor">Protecting Thy Neighbor</a></h3>
<h4>New Americans United Project Aims To Reclaim Religious Liberty From Zealots Of The Religious Right</h4> </div>
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<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/featured/special-book-excerpt-a-little-list">Special Book Excerpt: A Little List</a></h3>
<h4>Ten Reasons Not To Trust The Religious Right</h4> </div>
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<h3 class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/featured/americans-united-in-action">Americans United in Action</a></h3>
<h4>Staff Members and Activists Support Church-State Separation Nationwide</h4> </div>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/court-rejects-mich-catholic-hospital-policy">Court Rejects Mich. Catholic Hospital Policy Suit </a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/miss-public-school-fined-for-violation-of">Miss. Public School Fined For Violation Of Prayer Order</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/court-says-del-may-enforce-election-law">Court Says Del. May Enforce Election Law</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/texas-supreme-court-hears-cheerleaders-case">Texas Supreme Court Hears Cheerleaders Case</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/around-the-world-sudanese-christians-may-be">Around The World: Sudanese Christians May Be Lashed Over Clothing</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/anti-marriage-equality-resolution-pushed-in">Anti-Marriage Equality Resolution Pushed In House</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/colo-church-to-cease-public-school">Colo. Church To Cease Public School Proselytizing</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/au-bulletin/wisc-legislators-expand-voucher-program">Wisc. Legislators Expand Voucher Program</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/people-events/okla-supreme-court-nixes-capitol-display-of">Okla. Supreme Court Nixes Capitol Display Of Ten Commandments </a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/people-events/obama-administration-unveils-new-regulations">Obama Administration Unveils New Regulations On Birth Control Access</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/people-events/james-dunn-baptist-champion-of-religious">James Dunn, Baptist Champion Of Religious Liberty, Dead At 83 </a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/people-events/wash-emergency-birth-control-regs-upheld-by">Wash. Emergency Birth Control Regs Upheld By Federal Appeals Court </a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/people-events/private-group-purchases-calif-cross-to-end">Private Group Purchases Calif. Cross To End Lawsuit Over Religious Display</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/people-events/insurance-company-doesn-t-have-to-cover">Insurance Company Doesn’t Have To Cover Liberty U In Kidnapping Case, Court Says</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/people-events/vouchers-are-struck-down-in-colo-but-upheld">Vouchers Are Struck Down In Colo. But Upheld By N.C. High Court </a></span> </div></li>
</ul></div><div class="cs-department" id="section-editorial"> <h3>Editorial</h3>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/editorial/time-for-a-hard-truth-the-religious-right-lost-on">Time For A Hard Truth: The Religious Right Lost On Marriage Equality</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/editorial/a-cardinal-mistake-nyc-prelate-tries-to-smear">A Cardinal Mistake: NYC Prelate Tries To Smear Americans United</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/viewpoint/persecution-hogwash">Persecution? Hogwash!</a></span> </div></li>
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<div class="views-field views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/church-state/september-2015-church-state/perspective/god-and-government-a-new-book-that-trumps-the">God And Government: A New Book That Trumps The Religious Right</a></span> </div></li>
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</div></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/american-family-association">American Family Association</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/mat-staver">Mat Staver</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/family-research-council-frc">Family research Council (FRC)</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/tony-perkins">Tony Perkins</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/obergefell-v-hodges-0">Obergefell v. Hodges</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/supreme-court-united-states">The Supreme Court of the United States</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/national-organization-for-marriage">National Organization for Marriage</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/focus-family">Focus On The Family</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/james-dobson">James Dobson</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/adolf-hitler">Adolf Hitler</a></span></div></div>Tue, 01 Sep 2015 16:10:33 +0000Timothy Ritz11351 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/church-state/september-2015-church-state/featured/mad-men#commentsAwful Award: Religious Right Group To Honor Controversial Ark. Lawmaker For His ‘Courage’ https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/awful-award-religious-right-group-to-honor-controversial-ark-lawmaker-for
<a href="/about/people/simon-brown">Simon Brown</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">It’s disgusting that Religious Right groups like FCAC will overlook most any wrongdoing by a politician as long as he or she does their bidding.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>Let’s say you know of a state lawmaker who used taxpayer money to promote religion at a pre-school he owns. Imagine that he also legally adopted two children, then allegedly “re-homed” them with a man who was later accused of abusing one of those children. Would such an individual deserve an award for “courage”? The Religious Right <a href="http://posting.arktimes.com/media/pdf/representative_charlene_fite_and_justin_harris_recognized_for_courage.pdf">seems to think so</a>.</p><p>The Arkansas-based Family Council Action Committee (FCAC) intends to give an award to state Rep. Justin Harris (R-West Fork) and another lawmaker “for exhibiting their Christian faith and values in legislation they presented at the Arkansas State Capitol during the 90th General Assembly,” according to a press release from FCAC. “Furthermore, they demonstrated courage by standing strong in faith when situations were tough at the State Capitol and they did so with grace. They are consistently models of their Christian values in their homes, their communities, and their churches.”</p><p>If Harris is a model of “Christian values,” I’d say that faith is in some trouble. Americans United has <a href="https://au.org/church-state/march-2012-church-state/featured/abc-about-face-in-arkansas">tangled with Harris previously</a> because he runs a religious pre-school called Growing God’s Kingdom (GGK). Starting in 2005, Harris managed to funnel $2.6 million in taxpayer dollars to his overtly sectarian school through the Arkansas Better Choice (ABC) program. This included a whopping $534,000 for the 2010-2011 school year alone. </p><p>Since Harris’ school has a stated mission to “share the love of Jesus” with students, and the school operates with a Christian curriculum that includes a “Bible time” for verses, stories and prayer, there was an obvious constitutional problem in play.</p><p>So Americans United took action, and thanks to our complaint, in 2012 the Arkansas Department of Education <a href="https://au.org/church-state/september-2012-church-state/people-events/arkansas-restricts-taxpayer-funding-of">changed its rules</a> to bar pre-schools that teach religion from receiving state funds.</p><p>And that was the last we heard from Harris, until he came under fire this year <a href="https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/suffer-the-children-good-christian-legislator-in-ark-accused-of-giving-away">for the role he may have played in a child-abuse case</a>. According to a lengthy report in the Arkansas <em>Times</em>, Harris may have given two children he and his wife, Marsha, had adopted to Eric Cameron Francis, a former teacher at GGK who was fired after just three months for what Harris said was poor attendance. That termination came in January 2014; Francis was arrested that April and charged with raping a six-year-old girl who is reportedly Harris’ adopted daughter. </p><p>Harris legally adopted a six-year-old and a three-year-old through the Arkansas Department of Human Services. The <em>Times</em> said pictures of the two little girls showed up on Harris’ social media account in early 2013 and in March of that year he said the girls had been formally adopted.</p><p>It’s here that things got a little murky. The <em>Times</em> simply said: “For unknown reasons, about six months after the adoption was finalized, the Harrises sent the two girls to live with Eric Francis….”</p><p>But what we do know is authorities learned of the abuse thanks to an unidentified caller’s tip to Arkansas’ child maltreatment hotline on March 28. The caller said the Harrises “gave their adoptive children to a family” and “that family in turn gave the children to another family” and that they had “continued to accept adoption subsidy money even after giving the children away.” The report added that the girls were currently with that third family as of March 2015.</p><p>Harris has not been charged with a crime and it seems unlikely that he will ever face legal consequences because, incredibly, giving away adopted children to someone else falls into something of a legal gray area in Arkansas. But that doesn’t mean Harris escaped public scrutiny – this story circulated widely and Harris was forced to defend himself in the court of public opinion. Unsurprisingly, Harris <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/03/10/legislator-gives-away-adopted-girls/24733831/">claimed he was the real victim here</a>.</p><p>Of course FCAC, an arm of the Arkansas Family Council, which is an affiliate of Focus on the Family, made no mention of Harris’ alleged misdeeds. But the announcement of the awards earlier this week generated some backlash, so FCAC made a slight change of plans. Instead of giving the award to Harris at a special dinner Aug. 12 headlined by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), FCAC decided <a href="http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2015/08/12/family-council-to-present-courage-award-to-rep-justin-harris-at-ted-cruz-event-today">it will make the presentation at another time</a>, the <em>Times </em>said.</p><p>It’s disgusting that Religious Right groups like FCAC will overlook most any wrongdoing by a politician as long as he or she does their bidding. Sure, Harris’ actions may have endangered a child, but since he runs a religious pre-school and advances a fundamentalist agenda in Little Rock, he’s one of the good guys! At least that’s how FCAC sees things.</p><p>And the fact that FCAC slightly reversed course when it decided not to give Harris his award at the planned ceremony indicates it is well aware of the controversy that surrounds him. Yet he is still going to be honored.</p><p>For a group that claims to be so righteous, the Religious Right sure has a bizarre sense of morality.</p><p> </p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/descriptions-and-activities-religious-right-groups">Descriptions and Activities of Religious Right Groups</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/rep-justin-harris">Rep. Justin Harris</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/arkansas">Arkansas</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/arkansas-department-of-human-services">Arkansas Department of Human Services</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/arkansas-family-council">Arkansas Family Council</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/focus-family">Focus On The Family</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/family-council-action-committee">Family Council Action Committee</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/arkansas-better-choice-program">Arkansas Better Choice program</a></span></div></div>Fri, 14 Aug 2015 15:24:43 +0000Simon Brown11325 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/awful-award-religious-right-group-to-honor-controversial-ark-lawmaker-for#commentsNational Day Of Prayer Undermines Religious Freedom, Says Americans United https://au.org/media/press-releases/national-day-of-prayer-undermines-religious-freedom-says-americans-united
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>The National Day of Prayer (NDP) is a constitutionally suspect government endorsement of religion, Americans United for Separation of Church and State says.</p><p>“The government should not be giving out prayer instructions,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Those who want to pray are more than capable of doing so without government coercion; those who do not wish to pray surely do not appreciate a federal directive endorsing belief over non-belief.”</p><p>NDP, which is May 7 this year, is a sectarian event with roots in fundamentalist Christianity. A joint resolution passed by Congress in 1952 asks the president to set aside one day per year so “the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation.”</p><p>In recent years, the majority of NDP observances have been coordinated by private Religious Right groups like the National Day of Prayer Task Force. Founded by Shirley Dobson, wife of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, the Task Force promotes the myth that the U.S. is an officially “Christian nation” and restricts its events to members of Judeo-Christian traditions.</p><p>On its website, the Task Force urges supporters to pray for “seven spheres of influence,” including schools, government and the military. Its materials also claim that the United States requires “another Great Awakening,” and encourage participants to pray for the conversion of non-Christian public officials.</p><p>The Task Force will host a marathon Bible-reading session at the Idaho State Capitol, a “Prayer-a-Thon” at the Montana State Capitol and a prayer vigil at the Lafayette County Courthouse in Oxford, Miss., among other events.</p><p>In response, Americans United has produced <a href="https://www.au.org/files/NotAFan-Jefferson.jpg">a series</a> of shareable <a href="https://www.au.org/files/NDP-Arbor.jpg">informational graphics</a> that explain the constitutional problems presented by NDP.</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/government-sponsored-religious-displays">Government-Sponsored Religious Displays</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/national-day-prayer">National Day of Prayer</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/national-day-prayer-task-force">National Day of Prayer Task Force</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/james-dobson">James Dobson</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/shirley-dobson">Shirley Dobson</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/focus-family">Focus On The Family</a></span></div></div><h3 >Church-State Watchdog Produces Shareable Graphics Exposing Problems Of Official Prayer&nbsp;Event</h3>Wed, 06 May 2015 15:50:40 +0000Simon Brown11108 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/media/press-releases/national-day-of-prayer-undermines-religious-freedom-says-americans-united#commentsDoomsday Dobson: Religious Right Figure Claims Marriage Equality Will Spark ‘Civil War’https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/doomsday-dobson-religious-right-figure-claims-marriage-equality-will-spark
<a href="/about/people/simon-brown">Simon Brown</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Same-sex marriage has been legal in Massachusetts for 11 years, and somehow America has not descended into chaos. As others have joined the Bay State over time, it has not brought us any closer to internecine armed conflict. </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>Marriage equality is on the march in the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case later this month that could extend same-sex marriage nationwide as early as the end of June.</p><p>Religious Right groups are in full-blown panic. They know they are likely running out of options to stem the marriage tide, and one of their few remaining ploys is to create hysteria with absurdist arguments that the legalization of same-sex marriage will result in war – and they mean that literally.</p><p>This has been going on <a href="https://au.org/church-state/december-2014-church-state/featured/apocalypse-now">for some time</a>, with the likes of the American Family Association’s Bryan Fischer, Family Research Council head <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/tony-perkins-gay-marriage-ruling-will-trigger-uprising">Tony Perkins</a> and Liberty Counsel head Mat Staver <a href="https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/fundamentalist-freak-out-it-s-not-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it-and">spreading gloom and doom</a>.</p><p>Now, Focus on the Family (FOF) founder James Dobson is getting in on the act. During a recent conference call with anti-gay activists, Dobson, who retired from FOF a few years ago and now runs a broadcasting outlet called <a href="http://drjamesdobson.org/">Family Talk</a>, said America could be dragged into a <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/james-dobson-gay-marriage-will-lead-civil-war">civil war over marriage equality</a>. (Thanks to Right Wing Watch for the audio.) </p><p>“Talk about a Civil War, we could have another one over this,” Dobson fumed.</p><p>Dobson’s far-fetched prediction is <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/staver-supreme-court-could-spark-second-revolution-and-civil-war-over-marriage-equality">nothing new</a>. Back in 2012, Staver said marriage equality “could cause another civil war.”</p><p>Of course there is no actual danger here. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Massachusetts for 11 years, and somehow America has not descended into chaos. As others have joined the Bay State over time, it has not brought us any closer to internecine armed conflict. </p><p>The true threat to civil liberties, as usual, is actually from the Religious Right. Dobson said far right Republicans in Congress are “scared to death” to oppose same-sex marriage, leaving just one solution to end this supposed threat to Christians: amend the U.S. Constitution.</p><p>“I agree with [Home School Legal Defense Association founder] Michael Farris that the only thing we can do is to have a state constitutional convention to re-examine the Constitution,” Dobson said. “I wish I could say I believe pouring a lot of opposition, which may not even be there now, onto the Supreme Court is going to make a big difference.”</p><p>This is <a href="https://au.org/church-state/april-2014-church-state/featured/faux-founders">another old idea</a> that hasn’t gained much traction since the original Constitutional Convention in 1787. If two-thirds of the states call for a Constitutional Convention, one must be convened. So far, the U.S. Constitution has been amended 27 times. None of those amendments were passed via Constitutional Convention.</p><p>Some, like Farris, who call for a convention claim their goal is to force Congress to balance its budget. The problem is, once a convention is under way, nothing is off the table – from outlawing same-sex marriage to banning abortion. This is a truly frightening scenario that has never happened precisely because it is almost impossible to limit what can and can’t be amended.</p><p>Yet Farris has been advocating for a Constitutional Convention for years through his Convention of the States project. And if he ever succeeds, Dobson and his allies would likely push for an amendment banning same-sex marriage. Such an extreme measure is really all the Religious Right has left when it comes to stopping the spread of marriage equality, and it’s not hard to see why they view it as a viable option.</p><p>Just like a civil war over marriage, let’s hope a Constitutional Convention never comes to pass. If Dobson and his pals ever gain the power to do a rewrite of the First Amendment, disaster is sure to follow. </p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/marriage">Marriage</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/james-dobson">James Dobson</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/mat-staver">Mat Staver</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/tony-perkins">Tony Perkins</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/focus-family">Focus On The Family</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/liberty-counsel">Liberty Counsel</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/family-research-council">Family Research Council</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/bryan-fischer">Bryan Fischer</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/american-family-association">American Family Association</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/michael-farris">Michael Farris</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/convention-of-the-states">convention of the states</a></span></div></div>Thu, 09 Apr 2015 16:10:00 +0000Simon Brown11027 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/doomsday-dobson-religious-right-figure-claims-marriage-equality-will-spark#commentsPoliticizing Prayer: James Dobson Calls Obama ‘Abortion President’ At Allegedly ‘Non-Partisan’ Prayer Day Eventhttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/politicizing-prayer-james-dobson-calls-obama-abortion-president-at
<a href="/about/people/simon-brown">Simon Brown</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">It’s probably just as well that Dobson has no respect for decorum, because he showed the true nature of this event: it’s about advancing a far-right agenda and spewing hatred toward Obama.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>If anyone was still unconvinced prior to yesterday that the National Day of Prayer (NDP) is little more than a fundamentalist Christian political rally, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson’s rant on Capitol Hill should have erased any doubts.</p><p>During an event organized by the National Day of Prayer Task Force (a non-profit run by conservative evangelical Christians) and attended by members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Dobson slammed President Barack Obama, calling him the “abortion president.”</p><p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/01/janice-hahn-james-dobson-national-day-of-prayer_n_5248819.html">In a lengthy rant</a> at an event that was supposed to be about prayer, not politics, Dobson attacked Obama primarily for his support of the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate, which says that most businesses must offer insurance plans to their employees that include access to no-cost birth control.</p><p>“President Obama, before he was elected, made it very clear that he wanted to be the abortion president,” Dobson fulminated. “He didn’t make any bones about it. This is something that he really was going to promote and support, and he has done that, and in a sense he is the abortion president.”</p><p>He also called the regulations “wicked” and vowed to never abide by them.</p><p>Dobson’s opposition to the birth control mandate isn’t exactly a secret. His Family Talk radio program <a href="http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/255731451.html">recently won a temporary reprieve</a> from offering employees birth control in their insurance plans thanks to a legal challenge. Dobson claims his 28-employee organization is a Christian ministry and therefore should be exempt on religious grounds. </p><p>But Dobson apparently didn’t know his audience at the prayer event, which included Democrats. One, U.S. Rep. Janice Hahn (D-Calif.) became so incensed by Dobson’s words that she walked out. Before she did, she pointed a finger at Dobson and said: “This is inappropriate!”</p><p>In an interview with the Huffington Post, Hahn, who is co-chair of the weekly congressional prayer breakfast, said Dobson did not respect the intended nature of the National Day of Prayer.</p><p>“Dobson just blew a hole into this idea of being a non-partisan National Day of Prayer,” Hahn said. “It was very disturbing to me … and really a shame. James Dobson hijacked the National Day of Prayer -- this non-partisan, non-political National Day of Prayer -- to promote his own distorted political agenda.” </p><p>While Americans United has <a href="https://au.org/content/whats-wrong-with-the-national-day-of-prayer">long opposed the NDP</a>, if it must continue to exist it should be non-partisan and non-political, as Hahn said. Even the NDP Task Force has said as much.</p><p>“This is not about proselytizing,” NDP Task Force Vice Chairman John Bornschein said in April in response to accusations that the event panders to the right wing. “This is purely about prayer and praying for our leadership and asking for God's wisdom and blessing over our leaders.”</p><p>The problem is, intolerant fundamentalist Christians like Dobson are not interested in respecting a collegial atmosphere. Congress created the NDP in 1952 to distinguish America from those “godless” communists in the Soviet Union, but the Religious Right hijacked the event in the 1980s and ever since it has been little more than an opportunity for pushing the right wing’s narrow political agenda and discriminating against non-believers and others who don’t support the Religious Right.</p><p>As for Dobson, he has struggled to remain relevant <a href="https://au.org/media/press-releases/au-issues-statement-on-resignation-of-james-dobson-as-focus-on-the-family">since stepping down</a> from Focus on the Family in 2009. But he had no trouble getting a speaking gig for the National Day of Prayer because his wife, Shirley, chairs the NDP Task Force.</p><p>It’s probably just as well that Dobson has no respect for decorum, because he showed the true nature of this event: it’s about advancing a far-right agenda and spewing hatred toward Obama.</p><p>(Dobson also showed that he doesn’t have a clue about the mandate. If birth control is easier to access, there will be less need for abortions. If Obama was truly the “abortion president,” why would he advocate a policy that reduces the need for abortion?)</p><p>Of course fundamentalists like Dobson, who has long pushed <a href="http://mediamatters.org/video/2005/10/07/dobson-same-sex-marriage-would-lead-to-marriage/133967">dodgy ideas about marriage</a> and child rearing from a fundamentalist perspective, have no use for reason or facts. And it probably never even occurred to him that someone in the audience for his speech might be offended because for so long the NDP has been an opportunity to spout fundamentalist rhetoric.</p><p>Obama is required to recognize the NDP, which he did yesterday. But he doesn’t make much fuss over it, certainly not the way President George W. Bush did during his time in the White House. Of course this has drawn the ire of the Dobson crowd, but the president’s position makes sense. Why should Obama associate with those who clearly hate him?</p><p>(For what it’s worth, <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/01/presidential-proclamation-national-day-prayer-2014">Obama’s official proclamation</a> called on Americans to remember the people around the world who truly are oppressed and denied religious liberty, as opposed to whiners like Dobson.)</p><p>As tactless as it was, Dobson’s rant raised an important question: Why was Hahn the only official who walked out? It’s sad that no one else displayed similar courage.</p><p>Until more people stand up to the tyranny of the Religious Right, that movement will continue to be a powerful force in America, and the NDP will remain a vehicle for fundamentalist zealots to use the faith they claim to treasure to score cheap political points. </p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/prayer-at-government-events-and-legislative-meetings">Prayer at Government Events and Legislative Meetings</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/reproductive-health-conscience-clauses-for-religious-objectors">Reproductive Health &amp; Conscience Clauses for Religious Objectors</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/focus-family">Focus On The Family</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/james-dobson">James Dobson</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/national-day-prayer-task-force">National Day of Prayer Task Force</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/national-day-prayer">National Day of Prayer</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/janice-hahn">Janice Hahn</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/barack-obama">Barack Obama</a></span></div></div>Fri, 02 May 2014 16:19:27 +0000Simon Brown9922 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/politicizing-prayer-james-dobson-calls-obama-abortion-president-at#comments